24 Hours: Jason Wu On His Secret Instagram Account And Guilty Pleasures
The designer who has grown his label into one known for refined yet fresh creations takes us through a typical day filled with fashion, friends and lots of good food
Designer Jason Wu shares a day in his life with Bazaar Arabia.
8AM: I am a heavy sleeper. I try to sleep until the last possible second; I am definitely more of a night person. The first thing I do is check my emails before hopping on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Then I take a quick shower using Aesop coriander body wash, Caudalie exfoliating face wash and Sisley conditioner with cotton proteins. To get ready, I use Aesop Rind body balm, 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond face cream and my favourite 111Skin Rose Gold Brightening facial treatment mask. I particularly love 111Skin and Caudalie products because they are so perfect for my skin type and it always feels like a treat when I get to pamper myself in the morning.
Once I am out of the shower it takes me just five minutes to get dressed because I wear a uniform every day (black James Perse T-shirt or hoodie, Madewell black denim, and Common Projects white sneakers). My personal style is really simple and uncomplicated, I always wear all black. Then I grab a cup of hot green tea, feed my cats Jinxy and Peaches.
9:30AM: I usually leave the house by 9:30AM. I live in Greenwich Village, and I love to walk to work (the studio is in the Midtown garment district) when the weather is nice.
10AM: I typically arrive at the office at about 10:00AM and make my rounds in the studio to make sure everyone is aligned. I love to keep a very neat working space, as I work best in a pristine environment. Everyone always makes fun of me because I am always picking up after everybody in the studio, I am kind of a neat freak. However, during fashion week preparation, things usually get pretty crazy and messy. I truly believe that I am only as good as the team that surrounds me. So I enjoy bouncing ideas around and working with other people, it makes my creative process more interesting and diverse. I love how creative and collaborative my work is. Every day is different and it’s always interesting, even through challenging times.
1PM: I take about 30 minutes for lunch and I usually have a chicken Caesar salad. But sometimes when I’m a bit stressed, I will go all out and have a ramen noodle meal (my favourite) or a full-on cheeseburger. I love eating at COTE with my friends. I try to be health-conscious but because I love food so much, my diets usually don’t stick. Also, sour gummy candies and bubble tea are the snacks that I turn to throughout the day.
8:30PM: I try to leave the office no later than 8:30PM, sometimes I can leave sooner, it really depends on the day. I love dining out with friends – Chinese food is my favourite. And I just think that grabbing a meal with others is a great way to catch up with people I am close with and always a nice treat after a long day. I also am a bit of a homebody and I entertain a lot at home, especially in these last few years. I love these small gatherings because they feel much more intimate and special. I adore cooking and do so almost every day. Food really is my guilty pleasure. In fact, I have an Instagram account devoted to cooking: @MrWuEats. My favourite recipes are the ones my mum and grandmother passed down to me.
“Food really is my guilty pleasure. In fact, I have an Instagram account devoted to cooking: @mrwueats”
Jason Wu
1AM: I usually go to bed at 1:00AM and I tend to end up falling asleep in front of the TV. I have a hard time sleeping because my mind is filled with thoughts and ideas. So I am happy if I can get five or six hours of sleep a night. This is why the TV helps – because it distracts me. I will watch every food show that comes out (I especially love Gordon Ramsay’s programmes). I am also reading Do You Mind If I Cancel? by Gary Janetti. I always keep my Moleskin sketchbook close by as I am constantly sketching and doodling. I will also sometimes shop online at night and if I like something, I’ll usually buy five to ten of them at a time. I’m a creature of habit.
Interview Jessica Michault, Images Courtesy of Jason Wu
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s March 2022 issue